title: Hepatitis C virus and HIV antibodies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Zimbabwe: a pilot study.
abstract: To determine the role of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the aetiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Zimbabwe, HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were determined in sera from 63 HCC patients using a second generation enzyme immunoassay. Anti-HCV was found in 15 patients (23.8%), 12 of whom (80%) were males. The mean ages of anti-HCV positive and anti-HCV negative patients were 62.1 (SD = 10.6) and 44.3 (SD = 15.2) years, respectively (P < 0.001). HIV antibodies were found in 17/59 patients (28.8%), 12 of whom (70.6%) were males. The mean ages of HIV positive and HIV negative patients were 39.4 (SD = 15.2) and 51.0 (SD = 15.2) years (P = 0.011). Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was detected in 26/61 patients (42.6%) with mean ages of HBsAg positive vs negative patients of 41.5 (SD = 15.4) years for HIV positive and 53.1 (SD = 15.1) years for HIV negative subjects (P = 0.005). Younger HCC patients had high prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HIV and a low prevalence of anti-HCV; while older patients had a high prevalence of anti-HCV and low prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HIV. This study suggested that HCV infection is probably an important aetiological agent of HCC in Zimbabwe; however, the role of HIV infection as a cause of HCC either singly or as a co-factor with hepatitis B virus infection remains speculative and warrants further study.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, Harare Central Hospital, Southerton, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinig
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gudza
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tobaiwa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015030:Zimbabwe
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies